Lashkar Co- founder Amir Hamza shot by unidentified assailants in Lahore, critical.
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Islamabad
- Apr 16, 2026
- 751
Lahore, Pakistan: Amir Hamza, a founding member of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was shot by unidentified assailants in Lahore on Thursday. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where his condition is reported to be critical.
According to media reports, the attackers opened fire outside the office of a local news channel. The identity and motive of the assailants remain unclear, and Pakistani authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
This marks the second attack on Hamza within a year. In May last year, he was similarly shot by unknown assailants outside his residence. Following that incident, he was hospitalised and security around him was reportedly tightened, though no formal statement was released by the authorities.
Background and Role in Lashkar-e-Taiba
Amir Hamza was among the 17 individuals involved in the founding of Lashkar-e-Taiba in 1987. The organisation, led by Hafiz Saeed, is designated as a terrorist group by India, the United States, and several other countries.
Hamza played a significant role in the organisation’s propaganda and fundraising activities. He edited several newspapers and magazines affiliated with LeT and served as a member of its Central Advisory Committee. Additionally, he was associated with charitable and educational fronts linked to the group, including Lashkar’s University Trust.
He also maintained close ties with senior LeT leader Abdul Rehman Makki and worked to establish connections between LeT and other militant organisations.
Militancy and Global Terrorist Designation
During the 1980s, Hamza participated in the Afghan jihad against Soviet forces before aligning with LeT’s leadership. Due to his involvement in militant activities, the United States designated him a Global Terrorist in 2012, imposing sanctions and travel restrictions.
Hamza has been linked to several terrorist plots targeting India. He has also been accused of involvement in planning attacks on Indian security installations, including the Sunjwan Army camp attack in Jammu, though detailed attribution varies across reports.
Split from Lashkar-e-Taiba
Reports suggest that internal differences and financial constraints led to Hamza distancing himself from Lashkar-e-Taiba around 2018. Some sources claim he later formed a separate organisation named Jaish-e-Manqafa, although independent confirmation of the group’s structure and activities remains limited.
Ongoing Investigation
The latest shooting raises questions about internal rivalries or targeted reprisals within militant networks in Pakistan. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, but as of now, no group has claimed responsibility.